Winners announced for ‘Northern Michigan Has Talent’

Dancers and singers dominated the competition for prizes Saturday at the 6th Annual “Northern Michigan Has Talent” contest held at the Opera House.

By MIKE FORNESmike@cheboygantribune.com

Dancers and singers dominated the competition for prizes Saturday at the 6th Annual “Northern Michigan Has Talent” contest held at the Opera House.A field of 11 amateur performing artists was chosen for the contest from more than two dozen entries at an open audition on Feb. 2, according to Opera House Director Pam Westover.“Our contestants came from several communities in the Northern Michigan area,” Westover said. “While most were from Cheboygan, other communities were represented as well.”The top prize of $150 went to Jennifer Arsiwala of Cheboygan for performing an Indian traditional dance. Another Cheboygan entry, known as the Dancing Divas, took second place and $75 for their dance to the song “Hello Dolly.”Danielle Petingalo, of Pickford, Mich., placed third and won $50 with her rendition of Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep.”In addition, the People’s Choice Award, selected by the audience, was presented to Cheboygan’s Lydia Bailey who performed Carrie Underwood’s “Good Girl.”“This year’s proceeds from the Talent Show will go to the Robert Moloney Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarships for students who attend summer programs to pursue their interests in the arts,” Westover remarked. Judges for the contest were Randy Elliott, Vickie Rodriguez and Mary McClutchey. The program was supported, in part, by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts.